Celina was the seventh child and daughter of Yeshayahu and Chaya Eisenberg. Both her parents and seven of her siblings perished in the extermination camp, Treblinka, during the Holocaust. Celina survived the Holocaust, escaping from the Warsaw Ghetto at the age of 17 with false identity papers as a Polish Christian orphan and working in the restaurant of a pro-Nazi German family in Wittlich, Germany.
After the war, Celina made her way to Munich, Germany where she met her future husband, Ely Fein, who had survived four Nazi concentration camps. Celina and Ely married in 1946 and a year later their son, Martin, was born in Munich.
Celina, Ely and Martin emigrated to the United States in 1949 where they established a new life and a new beginning in Louisville, Kentucky and soon thereafter they were blessed with a baby girl, Helen.
Celina and Ely worked hard, learned the English language and after some years of working at several jobs, started their own clothing business - Fein’s Department Store. They later embarked on building single family homes and apartments. Their primary goal was to live the American dream and give a first class education to their two children. They sacrificed many personal pleasures toward that goal.
Celina and Ely moved to Houston in 1976 to be with their two children and enjoyed many years of joy and happiness with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren . After Ely passed away in 1985, Celina travelled the world and entered the University of Houston where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the age of 71.
Celina was a founding director of Holocaust Museum Houston and spent countless days and evenings speaking to groups of all ages about her experiences during the Holocaust. She was also a volunteer at MD Anderson hospital and an active participant in Congregation Beth Yeshurun.
Celina was the recipient of numerous awards among which were the University of Houston Law Center Arrival Award, the Israel Bonds New Life Award, The Anti-Defamation League Concert Against Hate Community Hero Award and was the subject along with other Holocaust survivors of a powerful Oratorio composed by Lawrence Siegel about the Holocaust.
Despite the hardship of her war experiences or of starting a new life from scratch, Celina created a home full of love and optimism for the future. Her home was replete with warmth and delicious Sabbath and Holiday dinners. Celina had a ready smile for every person she met.
Celina was a pillar of strength who epitomized mankind’s potential for creating triumph out of tragedy. She spent her life after the Holocaust fighting against hatred and apathy, speaking and educating young people about the Holocaust and reminding the world about the perils of hatred and prejudice, unchallenged by good and decent people.
Celina is survived by her children Martin & Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein, Helen & Dr. Cal Cohn, her grandchildren, Rebecca Fein Luks & David Luks, Dr. Mindy Fein, Daniel & Rachel Fein, Jordan Fein and Isaac Fein, Jacqueline Cohn and Ely Cohn, her great grandchildren, Benjamin Luks and Elliot Luks and her nephew, Joseph Eisenberg and his wife Ziva Eisenberg.
We are eternally grateful for the loving care given to Celina in her later years by Marjorie Del Orio, Paula Zuniga, Ada Zuniga, Jennifer Avila, JoAnn Lalin, Dr. Felicia Feng, Dr. Ned Stein and Dr. Marshall Stein.
The Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 11:30AM at Congregation Beth Yeshurun 4525 Beechnut St., Houston, TX 77096
Burial will be private.
The family asks that those wishing to make memorial contributions do so to Holocaust Museum Houston or to the charity of one’s choice.
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